Display frame assembly and methods of use

ABSTRACT

A display frame assembly designed to allow the user to change a displayed media selection or image. The frame assembly may include a removable frame section providing access to the display media. The frame assembly may also be configured to support or store additional media in a storage cavity behind the display media. The removable frame portion may be separated from a fixed frame portion and the display media can be removed and placed into the storage cavity and a different display media may be positioned for view in the display window.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Framing art or general display media is time consuming, expensive, and may require removing the ornamental frame from the wall or stand and substantial disassembly of the frame in order to change the display media. The present disclosure relates to a display frame assembly designed to allow the user to easily change the art or display media. For example, in one embodiment of the display frame assembly, the user may desire to routinely change art or display media to match a change of seasons or room decor. In other embodiments, the frame assembly may be used for holiday calendars, holiday themed displays, child of the month, children's annual school photos, pet photos, children's art or school projects, seasonal chore or job charts, etc. Additional embodiments may include employee of the month, menus, special of the day, seasonal advertising, movie posters, business licenses, professional certificates, monthly safety awards or slogans, product of the month, to change displays or art to complement the user's current office furnishings, etc.

One embodiment may include a display frame assembly having a back cover, a viewing window, an interior storage cavity, and a frame perimeter, with at least one removable section, allowing access to the storage cavity and the display media without removing the frame assembly from the wall or stand.

The display frame material can be any traditional framing material including but not limited to, wood, wood composite, paper composite, thermal plastic, plastic resin, vinyl, extruded or cast metal, ceramic, glass, stone, polystyrene, styrofoam, artificial stone, or any combination of the above materials. The frame can also be formed using other known materials or be formed using new materials developed in the future. The geometry of the display frame can be rectangular, square, circular, oval or any other desired shape and may be configured to allow the user to remove the display media and/or stored media.

In one embodiment, at least one section of the frame perimeter may be removable. In one such embodiment, the removable section may be the top of the frame, however, if the configuration or application demands, the removable section could also be a side or bottom portion of the display frame assembly. For example, if the frame is a square or rectangular shape, the removable section may abut one or more fixed sections of the frame joints, and may be cut at an angle of approximately 0° to an angle of approximately 90°. For example, the frame joint may be cut at an angle of approximately 5°, or approximately 10°, or approximately 15°, or approximately 20°, or approximately 25°, or approximately 30°, or approximately 35°, or approximately 40°, or approximately 45°, or approximately 50°, or approximately 55°, or approximately 60°, or approximately 65°, or approximately 70°, or approximately 75°, or approximately 80°, or approximately 85°, or approximately 90°. In yet another embodiment, the joint for the removable section may be cut perpendicular to the major direction of the frame section or the joint may be cut on an irregular line in order to blend or disguise the joint with the frame ornamentation. The mating surfaces between the removable section and the fixed section can be prepared or finished to produce a clean, non-obtrusive joint. In another embodiment, the addition of a dowel, a pin or notch at the section joints may be included to provide an alignment aid of the frame sections.

In one embodiment, a removable section and one or more fixed sections are secured together using opposing magnets, which can be recessed into the mating joint surfaces. In another embodiment, the frame sections can be secured using one or more connectors such as dowel connectors, adhesive, hook-and-loop fasteners, snaps, hinges, and/or one or more latch mechanisms. In one such embodiment, the attachment means can be recessed or integrated into the frame assembly.

In one embodiment, the frame display window can be configured so that the edges of the display window generally follow the perimeter of the frame. For example, if the perimeter is in the shape of an animal, such as a dog, the frame window may be generally rectangular, whereas, if the frame perimeter resembles a trout, the complementary window may be an oval configuration. The display window can be open or may include a transparent protective covering, such as, glass, plastic, vinyl or polycarbonate. In one such embodiment, a glass pane can be used as a transparent protective covering. The glass pane may include a safety strip along the glass edge that is exposed when the removable frame section is displaced. The safety strip can be formed from metal, extruded vinyl, or tape and will protect the user's fingers and hands when accessing and changing the display media. The safety strip may be configured such that it is completely hidden when the removable frame section is in place.

In one embodiment, a back cover may seal the ornamental frame assembly; the back cover can be plastic, wood, cardboard or any other suitable material. In one such embodiment, a hanging device or frame stand can be attached to the back cover.

The fixed section of the ornamental frame assembly may include a cavity for storing additional art or display media. In one embodiment, the cross-section of the frame may be configured to allow space for a front protective cover, the art or media on display, and the storage of additional art or media. In one such embodiment, the frame may include a cavity located between the display media and the back cover. The storage cavity can be designed to accommodate loose storage of the display media or the frame sides may be configured with guides that position the protective cover and display media, separated from the stored media. Separating the stored media may reduce the wear and abrasion marks that may occur when the media is added or removed from the storage cavity. The storage cavity can be used for short-term storage of display media. In another embodiment, the display frame may be used to store and display a child's school photographs, and the previous year's class photos or student portraits can be stored in the storage cavity and the entire collection can be passed on, as a collection stored in the frame, when the child is grown.

In one embodiment, the ornamental frame assembly can be used while the frame is still attached to the wall or sitting on a stand. In one such embodiment, the user may remove the removable frame section, slide out the current art or display media, choose a new piece of art or media from the storage cavity, slide the new choice into the top-most or display slot and replace the removable frame section. The user may also choose to store the art randomly or they may store the display media in a predetermined order where the user will routinely rotate art sequentially from the storage cavity. For example, seasonal or monthly art may include twelve pieces of media, the media may be stored in chronological order with the current month on display, and the last month at the back of the stack. When the month changes, the user would remove the removable frame section, remove the current month's display from the display slot and place it to the back of the stack, the top-most media will then be moved to the display slot and the user may then replace the removable frame section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a display frame.

FIG. 2A depicts an embodiment of a display frame joint with connectors.

FIG. 2B shows still another embodiment of a display frame with a hinged joint.

FIG. 3 is a top view of one embodiment of a display frame showing a frame joint with a connector.

FIG. 4 is a top view of one embodiment of a display frame showing a connector and media separator.

FIG. 5 shows multiple embodiments of display frame configurations.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a display frame assembly 10 having a display frame 20, with one or more fixed frame sections 21, including side frame rail 23 and bottom frame rail 25, and a removable frame section 22. The removable frame section 22 and fixed frame sections 21 may vary depending on the configuration and application of the frame. In one embodiment, such as a rectangular frame 20, the display frame may include a top removable frame section 22. In yet another embodiment, a rectangular frame 20 may include a side removable section, such as a removable side frame rail 23. In one such embodiment, a removable side frame rail 23 may be used if there is insufficient clearance, to allow the user to change a display media 60, between the top of frame 20 and the surrounding room ceiling. In a square or rectangular embodiment, sections of frame 20 can be connected using a joint 26, such as a mitered joint and/or a butt joint. The display media 60 may fill the viewing window 40 entirely or may include a matte 30. The viewing window 40 can be open or may include a transparent cover 41, such as glass, polycarbonate or plastic in order to protect the display media 60.

In another embodiment, a frame assembly 10 may include a mitered joint 26, as shown in FIG. 2A. The removable frame section 22 may be attached to side frame rail 23 at mitered joint 26. The removable frame section 22 may be held in place by magnet 51 and magnet 52. Additional connectors, such as dowel connector 53 and connector hole 54 may be used, alone or in combination with other connectors such as magnets 51 and 42, to attach the removable frame section 22.

FIG. 3 shows a top view of a corner section of one embodiment of a frame assembly 10 with frame section 22 removed. Magnet 52 and dowel holes 54 are visible on the mitered surface of side frame rail 23. In one such embodiment, recess 25 may be formed on one or more sections of the frame 20 including side frame rail 23. A protective cover 40 can be positioned at a front portion of recess 25. In yet another embodiment, a slot (not shown) may also be formed in side frame rail 23 for securing the protective cover 40.

With continued reference to FIG. 2A, back cover 70 can overlap the back surface of side frame rail 23. In one embodiment, back cover 70 may not be visible when the ornamental frame assembly 10 is displayed or mounted on a wall. A display media 60 can be positioned against or near protective cover 40. In one example, a storage cavity 29 may be formed between display media 60 and back cover 70. Stored media 61 may be stored in storage cavity 29 or may be rotated into the display media position 60 as desired by the user.

With reference to FIG. 2B, another embodiment of a display frame may include a hinged frame to provide access to the display media. For example, removable frame section 22 may be joined to the side frame rail 23 at joint 26 using a hinge assembly 55. The hinge assembly 55 can be positioned on either the right or left side, or the top or bottom, of frame 10. In one such embodiment, the hinge assembly 55 can be recessed into the frame 10, on the inside or the outside of the joint 26. In still another embodiment of a display frame the hinge assembly 55 may be positioned on a back surface of the removable frame section 22, allowing frame section 22 to fold away from side frame rails 23 in an alternative direction.

In another embodiment of a display frame 10, shown in FIG. 4, a separator insert 26 may be installed in storage cavity 29. The separator insert 26 can be formed as a separate piece installed into storage cavity 29, or separator insert 26 can be milled or molded integral with the sections of frame 20, including side frame rail 23. In one such embodiment, slots 28 of separator insert 26 can be used to hold the protective cover 40, the display media 60, the stored media 61, as well as back cover 70.

For other embodiments described herein, FIG. 5 shows possible separation points between the fixed frame section 21 and the removable section 22. For example, rectangular configuration 11 may include a top removable section 22 and a bottom fixed section 21. The removable section 22 for a square configuration can be oriented in any direction. A generally round shape or an oval 13 may have a separation line proximate with a central axis in order to allow the display media and stored media to be freely manipulated in the frame. In yet other embodiments, irregular shapes such as a fish 14 and a tree 15, may include a separation line between the fixed section 21 and the removable section 22 on a line that allows the display media and stored media to be removed and replaced into the frame assembly 10 without interference. 

1. A frame assembly comprising: a frame having a fixed portion and a removable portion; a back cover fixedly attached to the back side of the fixed portion; a viewing window; a storage cavity, wherein the storage cavity is configured to support display media removably positioned in the storage cavity and visible through the viewing window.
 2. The frame assembly of claim 1, wherein the storage cavity is configured to support stored media positioned in the storage cavity behind the display media.
 3. The frame assembly of claim 1, wherein the removable portion of the frame is separated from at least a portion of the fixed portion of the frame to allow the display media to be positioned in the storage cavity.
 4. The frame assembly of claim 1, wherein the removable portion is attached to the fixed portion using at least one connector.
 5. The frame assembly of claim 1, wherein the removable portion is attached to the fixed portion using at least one of a magnet, hook and loop fastener, an adhesive, a snap, a hinge, and a latch.
 6. The frame assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one alignment aid is positioned between the fixed portion and the removable portion.
 7. The frame assembly of claim 6, wherein the at least one alignment aid is one of a dowel, a pin, or notch.
 8. The frame assembly of claim 1, wherein the viewing window comprises a transparent protective cover.
 9. The frame assembly of claim 8, wherein the transparent protective cover is at least one of glass, plastic, vinyl, and polycarbonate.
 10. The frame assembly of claim 1, wherein the storage cavity includes a media separator.
 11. The frame assembly of claim 1, wherein the frame is composed of one of wood, plastic, vinyl, metal, polystyrene, ceramic, stone, paper composite, or wood composite.
 12. A method of using a frame assembly while the frame assembly is on the wall or in a display position, the method comprising: removing a removable portion of the frame; removing a first displayed media from a display position; removing a stored media from a storage cavity within the frame assembly; placing the stored media into the display position; placing the first displayed media into the storage cavity; and replacing the removable portion of the frame. 